Jake Gyllenhaal (‘Nightcrawler’) and ‘The Imitation Game’ star Benedict Cumberbatch are in talks to take the leads in ‘The Current War,’ with Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’) behind the camera, says THR.
Based on Michael Mitnick’s Black List script, the historical drama tells the true story of the race between Thomas Edison (Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Gyllenhaal) to develop a practical system of electricity, and their bids to sell their respective inventions to the US and the wider world.
‘Night Watch’ and ‘Wanted’ helmer Timur Bekmambetov was originally set to take the director’s chair but will now serve as producer through his Bazelevs shingle. Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch of Film Rites will co-produce.
The plan is for Gomez-Rejon to make ‘The Current War’ his next project, after he wraps on his dramatic thriller ‘Collateral Beauty’ starring Will Smith.